Rodger and Mary-Jo invited us to come back fish at their new lodge, Elk Lake Wilderness Resort.
The yr is 2018. COVID? By no means heard of it. Bars are open, occasions are lots, and journey is as open as ever. My saucy, gregarious good friend, and So Fly podcast co-host, Aldo, was working at an superior Toronto cocktail bar. He served two individuals at his counter who had simply come from a neighborhood outside sportsmen’s present. He spoke to them about So Fly, and the way excited all of us have been to start exploring Ontario fly-fishing alternatives. Effectively, it so occurred that these two variety and pleasant individuals had simply bought a fishing lodge.
Since then, we’ve travelled there yearly — typically a few occasions in a yr. Why? Positive, we’ve grow to be associates with Rodger, Mary-Jo, Liz, Karis, and all of the puppies, however it’s greater than that. It’s the comfy, feel-like-family vibe you get when staying on the resort. The hospitality, care, and a focus to creating certain your keep is one of the best it may be. It’s additionally the seemingly infinite alternatives to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass, pike, walleye, splake, brook trout, lake trout, and extra. It’s wilderness in contrast to some other. There’s simply one thing to a sundown there, or a quiet night time campfire, underneath a blanket of stars, like a saltshaker that’s fallen over onto a pitch-black tablecloth. It’s the true northern Ontario outside expertise — with some fairly depraved boats as well.
A day within the life
A day on the resort begins with a hearty breakfast — bacon and eggs, all from our pre-stocked fridge. Those that aren’t cooking or making ready the oh-so-important espresso, get the boats prepared with all of the gear, then hit the water.
Elk Lake Wilderness Resort is on the banks of the Montreal River simply north of Temiskaming Shores. The river has some implausible fishing spots for quite a lot of heat water-species and flows into Mountain Lake.
We sometimes hit the lake and fish our approach again down the river, tossing hearty flies to hungry pike sitting within the weedlines and drop-offs. We cruise out to the furthest level for the day, and discover good, weedy areas. Then, fishing in six-to 10-foot depths, we seek for pike. A number of strips of line normally coaxes fish from the weeds.
The little rockets are usually bolder. Quickly sufficient we’re into nicer fish, within the 30– to 40-inch vary. A pair snaps of the digicam and fish are again, hardly stored out of the water. Fishing the lake and river is totally splendid, and since the resort sits proper on the water, the fishing is extraordinarily accessible. However, it wouldn’t be northern Ontario with out the choice to get a bit of distant.
Totally different days
There are lots of completely different “days” you possibly can have up right here. You possibly can take car-topper Jon boats and five-horse motors with you to discover trout lakes, or different distant warm-water lakes. As of late are implausible. You’re on their own, normally with a whole lake to your self. After I say normally, I imply virtually at all times. It’s very uncommon to see one other individual within the backcountry as a result of it’s such an unlimited, distant space. We even have a favorite lake to fish when visiting, however we’re retaining {that a} secret. Ask Rodger what lake it’s and he’ll ship you in. Undoubtedly, the fishing is implausible — stunning smallmouth, pike, walleye, and largemouth fishing. Tons of islands and inlets to discover, and untouched weedbeds and shoals. It truly is a wild day on the water.
Then there are the trout lakes: brook, rainbow, lake, and aurora trout are all choices, together with splake. Tiny trout lakes pepper the area for those who’re prepared to discover and work a bit of. On our first journey to Elk Lake, we fished a close-by lake for splake. And we had a complete blast catching tons of them on light-weight fly rods within the rain.
A chunk to eat
And what day could be full with no scrumptious, handy lunch? Every day you’re provided with a boxed lunch. Often it consists of a sandwich, some fruit, a granola bar, a drink, and dessert. It’s at all times a blast laughing, consuming, and taking within the surroundings. Then, on the finish of the day, you possibly can count on a scrumptious dinner ready contemporary from the kitchen. They wait till you’re off the water to carry it to your cabin. A small contact that goes a loooooong approach in making your keep on the resort additional particular. A fantastic dinner, just a few drinks, and maybe a campfire out again or on the fundamental lodge with different visitors and the pleasant workers makes for an incredible finish to the day.
Escape to your individual yard
Elk Lake Wilderness Resort makes having fun with northern Ontario straightforward as pie. It’s a really accessible drive-to-lodge. The oldsters that run it are among the nicest and most hospitable individuals we’ve ever had the pleasure of assembly, and the wilderness and fishing are unreal.
Getting there
From North Bay, drive two-and-a-half hours north on Hwy. 11 to Temiskaming Shores. Then take Hwy. 65 straight to the resort.
Lodging
Non-public cabins have comfy beds, contemporary linens, a full lavatory with scorching water, and a full kitchen. There’s additionally a TV and Wi-Fi.
Value
American Plans begin at $1,125 per individual for a week-long keep. This additionally contains all meals and lodging in a non-public cabin. Additionally they provide a modified American Plan and lodging-only plans at decrease prices.
Contact
Elk Lake
Wilderness Resort 590 Freeway 65,
Elk Lake, ON,
705-679-4041
www.elklakewilderness.com
e mail: elklakewilderness@outlook.com
Initially revealed within the July 2021 problem of Ontario OUT of DOORS journal.
